Rep of Ireland U23 1 - 0 Northern Ireland U23
Credit:
Pat Fenlon's Irish Under 23 side left it late last night at Mourneview Park to secure the three points against their Northern counterparts. Stephen Rice of Shamrock Rovers stooped low in the ninety first minute and headed home Killian Brennan's curling free kick.
Kick off was delayed by twenty five minutes as both sides intended to wear white socks. A solution was finally reached, and in accordance with the competition rules, the home side Northern Ireland changed.
Mark Quigley showed some great touches early on. He was coming deep and picking up possession. His strike partner Mooney was playing on the last man. Left winger Killian Brennan was frequently pushing forward, sometimes making it appear as if the Republic were playing with three up front.
The first chance of the game fell to the Republic. Rice latched on to a ball over the top and from the right hand side of the penalty area picked out Cork's Dave Mooney at the front post. The cross was ever so slightly behind Mooney but he adjusted himself well and connected sweetly with his right foot. Dwayne Nelson produced a great save as he pushed the ball around the post and out for a corner.
Just a minute later Northern Ireland should have taken the lead. Thomas Stewart got away from Cobh's Shane Guthrie and rounded keeper Barry Murphy. He shot at the unguarded goal but Conor Kenna managed to get back and prevented a certain goal. Kenna's clearance came of the crossbar and rebounded into the path of David Scullion - but left back Conor Powell was on hand to block the Glentoran striker's goalward header.
Powell nearly undid his good work of a few minutes previous when his mistake gifted possession to Stewart. Stewart cut inside but his left footed shot did trouble Murphy.
The North had another opportunity to open the scoring mid-way through the half. Paul Keegan fouled Kris Lindsay a few yards outside the penalty area - but once again Murphy wasn't troubled as Scullion's effort went high and wide.
Peter Thompson then hit the frame of Murphy's goal. Barry Holland clipped in a clever ball that was flicked on by Stewart. Thompson reacted quickly and it looked like his effort was heading for the net - however it clipped the inside of the post before a grateful Murphy claimed it.
John Paul Kelly was replaced at the break by Denis Behan, meaning that striker Quigley was asked to play on the right hand side of midfield.
Brennan wasted a free kick from the corner of the box when he decided to go for goal instead of trying to pick out a team mate in the middle. Holland shot wide for the North from twenty yards.
Just after the hour mark a Kenna clearance was blocked down and Stewart decided to try his luck from all of thirty yards, but again the keeper wasn't to be troubled. Paul Keegan was next to have a long range effort. The Drogheda man failed to connect correctly and his weakish shot went wide.
Murphy was called into action midway through the half after the North were awarded a free kick in a central position. Stewart took it quickly to Craig McClean. The left back flicked it up and struck a volley with the outside of his left foot.
The Republic were beginning to come more into the game. Fenlon had introduced Ger Rowe a little earlier. Rowe started out on the right wing where Quigley had been, but Fenlon then ordered him to switch sides with Brennan. Cork's Darren Murphy was also introduced at centre back and looked assured whenever put to the test.
Keegan had a volley from twenty five yards deflected wide and Guthrie tested Delaney when the ball fell to him after the North failed to fully clear a Brennan free kick.
With added on time just commencing the Republic were awarded a free on the right hand side. Keegan and Brennan stood over the dead ball but it was the Bohemians player that sent in a dangerous cross. Rice got in front of his marker at the front post and bravely headed home the winner.
Man of the Match:Conor Kenna
Republic of Ireland - B Murphy, O'Brien, Guthrie, Kenna (D Murphy), Powell, Kelly (Behan 46), Rice, Keegan, Brennan, Quigley (Rowe 64), Mooney.
Subs not used- Clarke, Higgins, Kavanagh, Pender
Northern Ireland - Nelson, Holland, Watson, Lindsay, McClean, Ward, Mulgrew, Clarke, Scullion (Garrett 57) , Stewart (McAllister 72), Thompson.
Subs not used- Kennan, Ogilby, Coates, Boyce, McIlmoyle
